The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (CCDBG Act, as amended) is the main federal law governing child care programs for low-income working families. The CCDBG Act authorizes discretionary appropriations to support grants to state, territorial, and tribal lead agencies. Lead agencies use these funds to subsidize the child care…

In this article, Ajay Chaudry and Heather Sandstrom review research on child care and early education for children under age three. They describe the array of early care and education arrangements families use for infants and toddlers; how these patterns have changed in recent decades; and differences by family socioeconomic status, race, and…

Student parents face many challenges, including paying for child care, that can make it difficult for them to complete a degree. The federal government supports student parents through Education's Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, which provides colleges funding for child care services, and federal student aid, which can…

In November 2014, with broad bipartisan support, Congress reauthorized CCDBG [Child Care and Development Block Grant] (the major federal child care program) for the first time since 1996. The new law strengthens CCDBG's dual role as a major early childhood education program and a work support for low-income families. This implementation guide is…

State child care policies--including licensing, subsidy, and quality enhancement strategies--can promote the quality and continuity of early childhood experiences and foster the healthy growth and development of babies and toddlers in child care settings, especially if they are informed by research. One of the policy levers states may use to…

This study examined the extent to which states are adequately ensuring the health and safety of children who are cared for in informal care settings receiving public funds. Protections were analyzed for children receiving in-home care or family child care in settings that are legally exempt from state licensing or registration requirements. The…

This report discusses efforts to ensure and promote quality child care through enforcement of state standards and other activities. The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 authorized the dispersing of funds to states for child care services through the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These funds are used…

This report describes early childhood activities of state departments of education, identifying and discussing six areas of activity that were determined to be significant. These six policy areas, which were identified as emerging as focal points of early childhood activity, were: (1) the School Readiness Education Goal; (2) passage of the…

Surveys how states are investing new federal money in child care quality and supply. Examines several key areas: child care licensing and monitoring; resource and referral services; child care for infants, school-agers, and children with special needs; child care for low-income families; comprehensive and enriched services; provider training;…

New federal money for child care, flowing to the states as a result of the landmark 1990 child care legislation, titled the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, has prompted states to make significant improvements in state child care programs and policies. Based on a national survey conducted in 1993 by the Children's Defense Fund (CDF),…

This report provides an overview of the activities funded in 1994 by states using funds available for quality improvement and supply building in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). Information on the activities was obtained through mail surveys conducted by the National Child Care Information Center with 45 states and territories…

This document consists of the 1995 issues of the Child Care Bulletin, a bimonthly publication of the National Child Care Information Center. The January-February issue focuses on child health and safety. Topics discussed include promoting health and safety in child care, and the earned income tax credit. The March-April issue focuses on school-age…